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Joseph P Bruner

Publications and source records attributed to Joseph P Bruner.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Intrauterine shunt for obstructive hydrocephalus--still not ready.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the safety and efficacy of ventriculoamniotic shunt placement through a hysterotomy in the second trimester of pregnancy as treatment for isolated obstructive hydrocephalus. METHODS: Between 1999 and 2003, four pregnancies with isolated fetal obstructive hydrocephalus in the second trimester were treated at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Preoperatively, all fetuses underwent serial ultrasonographic examinations and an ultrafast magnetic resonance imaging to confirm isolated aqueductal stenosis. A normal fetal karyotype and negative polymerase chain reaction or culture of the amniotic fluid for cytomegalovirus and toxoplasmosis were obtained. Serial enlargement of the lateral ventricles >1.5 mm/week and fetal macrocephaly were documented. Using epidural and GETA, a standard ultrasmall ventricular catheter and valve were inserted via a hysterotomy. The distal catheter, rather than being inserted into the fetal peritoneum, exited between the fetal scapulae. Patients were discharged home from the hospital, and the remainder of their prenatal care was provided by their local obstetrician. After delivery, the distal drain was converted to a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. RESULTS: Cases were performed at 23 6/7, 25 5/7, 26 4/7, and 26 5/7 weeks. Shunts performed well during pregnancy, and were intact at delivery. Deliveries occurred at 34 1/7, 27 1/7, 28, and 32 4/7 weeks. Birthweights were 2,010, 907, 1,200, and 2,220 g. All Apgar scores were normal. Case 1 developed a neonatal shunt infection, and is now developmentally delayed, with swallowing dysfunction, hearing deficits and a poor pupillary response. Case 2 developed neonatal sepsis and is now developmentally delayed. Case 3 delivered preterm due to chorioamnionitis, and neonatal death occurred from sepsis. Case 4 is developmentally delayed. CONCLUSIONS: Ventriculoamniotic shunt can be placed through a hysterotomy, overcoming many of the technical difficulties of earlier percutaneous shunts. However, recent developments in fetal imaging and molecular genetics have not improved case selection. Unless new breakthroughs occur, fetal shunting cannot reasonably be expected to improve perinatal outcome.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗
PubMed2005

Gastroschisis.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Cardiotocography↗
PubMed2004

Intrauterine repair of spina bifida: preoperative predictors of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to determine which factors that are present at the time of intrauterine repair of spina bifida could predict the need for ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus during the first year of life. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred seventy-eight fetuses have undergone intrauterine repair of spina bifida at Vanderbilt University Medical Center since 1997. Among these, 116 fetuses had a postnatal follow-up period of at least 12 months. The primary outcome of the study was the need for a ventriculoperitoneal shunt for hydrocephalus during the first year of life. The following variables were analyzed: maternal demographics (age, race, gravidity, and parity), gestational age at the time of surgery, ventricular size, degree of hindbrain herniation (determined by magnetic resonance imaging in 33 cases), type of defect (myelomeningocele vs myeloschisis), upper level of the lesion, presence of talipes, and intraoperative use of a lumbar drain. Statistical analysis was performed with logistic regression (to test the association of fetal and maternal factors and the need for ventriculoperitoneal shunting), 2-sample t-tests for comparison of means, and receiver operating curves with the use of the probabilities that were generated by the logistic regression for both continuous and categoric versions of the factors. RESULTS: Sixty-one of 116 of the fetuses (54%) who underwent operation in utero required the placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt before the age of 1 year. The upper level of the lesion was the strongest predictor of shunt requirement (adjusted odds ratio per 1 level increase with the use of continuous variables [S1 through T10], 1.73 [95% CI, 1.22- 2.44]; adjusted odds ratio with the use of upper lesion level >or=L3 vs 25 weeks as a categorized variable, 3.3 [95% CI, 1.28-8.24]), and preoperative ventricular size (adjusted odds ratio per 1 unit increase with the use of continuous variables, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.01-1.36]; adjusted odds ratio with the use of ventricular size >or=14 mm vs <14 mm as a categorized variable, 3.5 [95% CI, 1.08-11.16]). Receiver operating curves with the use of the probabilities that were generated by the logistic regression analyses for both the continuous and categoric versions of the factors were compared. The area under the curve was approximately 0.81 for both methods. Thirty-eight of 48 of the fetuses (79%) with an upper level of the lesion >or=L3 required placement of a ventriculoperitoneal shunt, although 25 of 68 of the fetuses (37%) with lesions or=14 mm (27/32 fetuses) needed a shunt compared with 41% of the fetuses (34/81 fetuses) with smaller ventricles (P=.03). Seventy-one percent of the fetuses who underwent operation at >25 weeks of gestation also required shunt placement (37/52 fetuses); 39% of the fetuses (24/61 fetuses) who were treated <or=25 weeks of gestation did not (P=.01). Thirty-five fetuses had a lesion level <or=L4 and a ventricular size <14 mm and underwent operation at <or=25 weeks of gestation. Among these, 8 fetuses (23%) required a ventriculoperitoneal shunt during the first year of life. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that, among fetuses who underwent operation in utero for spina bifida, fetuses with a ventricular size of <14 mm at the time of surgery, fetuses who had surgery at <or=25 weeks of gestation, and fetuses with defects that were located at <or=L4 were less likely to require ventriculoperitoneal shunting for hydrocephalus during the first year of life.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Myelomeningocele: prenatal evaluation--comparison between transabdominal US and MR imaging.

PURPOSE: To compare transabdominal ultrasonography (US) with fetal magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the prenatal evaluation of myelomeningocele lesion level. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Prenatal US images, pre- and postnatal MR images, and postnatal spinal radiographs obtained in the first 100 fetuses who underwent intrauterine myelomeningocele repair were the basis for this study. Each image was used to assign a lesion level. The assigned levels were compared by means of the kappa statistic, as an index of agreement. RESULTS: All fetuses underwent prenatal US. Sixty-one fetuses underwent prenatal MR imaging. Fifty fetuses underwent both postnatal spinal radiography and postnatal MR imaging, and an additional 34 fetuses underwent one postnatal study but not the other. When findings on prenatal US images were compared with those on postnatal radiographs, the findings agreed within one spinal level in 79% (55 of 70, kappa = 0.60) of cases. When findings on prenatal MR images were compared with those on postnatal radiographs, the findings agreed in 82% (31 of 38, kappa = 0.63) of cases. Findings on postnatal MR images and those on postnatal spinal radiographs agreed within one spinal level in 100% (50 of 50, kappa = 1.0) of cases. CONCLUSION: Findings at prenatal MR imaging and prenatal US are equally accurate for the assignment of a lesion level in a fetus with myelomeningocele. Given that findings with both modalities will lead to misdiagnosis of the spinal level by two or more segments in at least 20% of cases, care should be exercised when neurologic outcome is predicted on the basis of these studies alone.

Female↗
PubMed2003

In their footsteps: a brief history of maternal-fetal surgery.

These four individuals are recognized because at a critical point in the evolution of maternal-fetal surgery they contributed in ways that uniquely advanced progress in the field, enabling other researchers to make even greater discoveries. They were not the only significant contributors; there were many, too numerous to recount. Although their contributions were crucial, other researchers accomplished more. Among their peers, however, these four pioneers stand out because at a critical nexus their vision and perseverance carried researchers forward to a new level of excellence. We all follow in their footsteps.

Female↗
PubMed2003

The effect of intrauterine myelomeningocele repair on the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus.

BACKGROUND: Intrauterine myelomeningocele repair (IUMR) was first successfully performed in 1997. Preliminary reports suggest that this procedure reduces the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus when compared to conventional postnatal therapy. However, the existing cohort of IUMR patients has not yet been systematically compared to a comparable group of conventionally treated controls. METHODS: Patients 1 year old or greater who had undergone IUMR at either Vanderbilt University or the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) were compared to a group of conventionally treated historical controls treated and followed at CHOP. In order to measure any differences between the groups, patients were stratified according to the level of the myelomeningocele lesion and the gestational age at the time of IUMR. RESULTS: One hundred and four IUMR patients were compared to 189 conventionally treated controls. IUMR resulted in statistically significant reductions in the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus at both lumbar and sacral lesion levels. When lumbar lesion levels were further stratified, from L1 to L5, it appeared that the benefit of IUMR was statistically significant only at levels below L2. Other factors with a significant impact on hydrocephalus were estimated gestational age and ventricular size at the time of surgery. In particular, statistically significant differences compared to controls were seen in the younger (< or =25 weeks) group but not in the older (>25 weeks) group. CONCLUSIONS: IUMR appears to substantially reduce the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus when compared to conventional treatment even when lesion level is taken into account. Patients with lesions above L3 may not share in this benefit. IUMR cannot be justified in fetuses older than 25 weeks of gestation. Additional improvements might be obtained by further reducing the average age at which fetuses are operated upon. It remains to be determined whether this benefit outweighs the potential risks of intrauterine surgery.

Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts↗
PubMed2003

Late gestational intrauterine myelomeningocele repair does not improve lower extremity function.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether intrauterine myelomeningocele repair performed at between 20 and 28 weeks gestation improves lower extremity function (LEF). METHODS: Thirty-seven consecutive patients who had undergone intrauterine repair of their myelomeningocele at Vanderbilt University Medical Center had their lower extremity function and radiographic level (first defective vertebral level) compared to these same parameters in 40 controls who had undergone traditional postgestational repair of their myelomeningocele at the Children's Hospital in Birmingham, Ala., USA. RESULTS: Of all 77 patients (controls and study group), 13 had a LEF that matched their radiographic level, 27 had a LEF that was rostral to their radiographic level, and 37 had a LEF that was caudal to their radiographic level. Further stratification revealed that for the intrauterine repaired myelomeningoceles, 11% had no difference between LEF and radiographic level, 43% had a LEF that was rostral to their radiographic level, and 46% had a LEF that was caudal to their radiographic level. For those closed in a traditional manner, LEF matched their radiographic level, was rostral to their radiographic level, and was caudal to their radiographic level in 22.5%, 27.5%, and 50% respectively. However, the overall mean differences between institutions produced a p-value of 0.2026 (paired t-test). CONCLUSIONS: Although the current timing of intrauterine myelomeningocele repair has been found to lessen the degree of herniation of the rhombencephalon and reduce the incidence of shunt-dependent hydrocephalus, it does not statistically improve LEF. Parents should be advised of these findings prior to surgical intervention so as to focus their expectations.

Female↗
PubMed2002

Robot-assisted endoscopic intrauterine myelomeningocele repair: a feasibility study.

BACKGROUND: Animal experiments have suggested that the intrauterine environment causes secondary injury to the congenitally dysplastic spinal cord. This in turn suggests that early closure of the myelomeningocele sac might prevent secondary injury and therefore improve neurologic outcome. This study was designed to examine the technical feasibility of performing intrauterine myelomeningocele repair using a robot-assisted endoscopic system in an animal model. METHODS: Six fetal sheep underwent creation and repair of a full-thickness skin lesion using the da Vinci system. RESULTS: With the device's advanced articulated instruments and three-dimensional optics, it was possible to endoscopically repair the induced skin defects. CONCLUSION: We conclude that, with the recent evolution in robotics and minimally invasive techniques, intrauterine endoscopic surgery has become a realistic goal that promises to reduce the associated risks of fetal surgery and extend the indications for its use.

Animals↗